29 Jan 2026
Who's most at risk of climate change effects?
The lives and livelihoods of young people and those most marginalised across the world are significantly at risk unless the UK and other countries cut carbon emissions rapidly.
Avoiding the very worst of climate change requires every country to do its bit.
What can local authorities do about harmful developments?
Local authorities make decisions or have a say in which developments get the go-ahead. They should reject or oppose polluting developments. Developments like new oil and gas exploration (including fracking), airport expansion and large housing estates you need a car to live in.
Local authorities should embrace renewable energy and developments that will reduce emissions.
What does the government need to do to prevent climate extremes?
The government has legally-binding carbon reduction targets and, in theory, has a plan to meet them. But it is also trying to pretend that airport expansion, which is being sought by airports across the country, is compatible with these targets by relying on technologies that haven’t yet been fully developed.
It is also not yet ruling out allowing further onshore oil and gas developments, including by fracking. In short, in its desperate search for economic growth it is jeopardising meeting climate targets, despite these being the minimum the UK needs to do to do its fair share to prevent the worst climate extremes. The government needs to stop aviation expansion and ban all types of fracking.
Watch out for disinformation
Some argue the UK is doing more than its fair share of climate action. It isn't true. Taking into account historical emissions we're one of the biggest polluters for the size of our country.
The UK's climate targets are the minimum we should do. Some politicians say we need fracking for cheap energy but in fact fracking in the UK would have no impact on our energy bills.
Also the government says airport expansion will be for the economy but research shows airports lead to more money leaving the UK than brought it by tourists.
Your voice matters
During elections politicians make more of an effort to listen. Tell them you care about climate change. Tell them you want polluters and wealthy people to pay. Ask them to sign-up to Friends of the Earth's Charter for Climate Hope.